Improving mechanical toughness and mold resistance of bamboo/high‐density polyethylene composites by pretreatment with the fungus Trametes versicolor

Abstract Mechanical toughness and mold resistance of bamboo–plastic composites (BPCs) are essential for the application on structural materials. However, limited work has used biological methods to improve these properties of BPCs. In this study, the white‐rot fungus Trametes versicolor was selected to modify bamboo fibers by short‐term incubation. Modified bamboo fibers were then used to reinforce high‐density polyethylene to prepare BPCs. Compared to the unmodified BPCs, the BPCs pre‐treated with T. versicolor showed increases in elongations at break and impact strength, and these increases became more obvious with the incubation time increased. The improved mechanical toughness was assumed to the selective removal of lignin reduced rigidity of raw materials, and the increase of specific surface areas and pore volumes enhanced mechanical interlocking of the composites. Surfaces of BPC pretreated for 15 days were free of mold spores, yielding mold inhibition efficiency of up to 100%. It suggests that metabolism of reducing sugars would efficiently improve the mold resistance of BPCs. A novel, eco‐friendly bioprocess for modifying the interface between bamboo and plastic was successfully established, and it allows BPCs to be widely applied in the field of outdoor living structures.